Socially Responsible Surgical Care

Pasithorn A. Suwanabol, MD, MS, FACS, FASCRS

It is my honor to serve as Guest Editor for this edition of Clinics of Colon & Rectal Surgery. As a health services researcher focused on improving overall health and quality of life among surgical patients, particularly those who have been largely understudied, I am excited about the topics presented in this issue and grateful to the authors willing to share their expertise in the context of colorectal surgery. Importantly, these topics are both timely and critical as our society and surgical community are becoming more attuned to the social issues our patients face—all of which are being recognized as the most influential to the health and well-being of individuals.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines social determinants of health as “the nonmedical factors that influence health outcomes. They are the conditions in which people are born, grow, work, live, and age, and the wider set of forces and systems shaping the conditions of daily life.”[1] Given that social determinants of health may account for as much as 50% of health outcomes, promoting social responsibility is essential to reducing disparities in access to surgical care and high-quality surgical outcomes, and promoting health equity. As surgeons, we have the ability and influence to improve the health and well-being of our patients and our communities, and it is our professional and moral duty. To do so, we must better understand the context in which groups that have been economically and socially marginalized interact with our society and health care system, and how to implement equitable interventions and approaches.[2] [3] Given the lack of literature guiding surgeons in socially responsible surgical care, I sincerely thank and applaud Dr. Scott Steele for this opportunity to use this platform to highlight the needs of often overlooked patient groups. While we highlight several populations in this issue, we also recognize that all groups that have been and continue to be marginalized may not be represented, nor do we directly address intersectionality, which underscores the critical need for ongoing efforts focused on health equity.

I am inspired by my colleagues and the surgery residents at the University of Michigan (many of whom authored the manuscripts in this issue) and would like to express my gratitude for enlightening me on current issues in surgery and our society. I would also like to thank the colorectal surgeons at the University of Massachusetts for your steadfast belief in me and continued sponsorship and support. Finally, I would like to thank the faculty and my peers at the University of Wisconsin for providing me with essential foundational skills and knowledge, demonstrating how to love what you do, and instilling and cultivating the core value to always “Do the right thing.” We are in a privileged place, and I am truly honored to have this opportunity to advocate for those who may need it most.

Publikationsverlauf

Artikel online veröffentlicht:
26. April 2024

• References

• 1 “Social Determinants of Health at CDC.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, December 8, 2022. Accessed April 16, 2024 at: https://www.cdc.gov/about/sdoh/index.html#print
• 2 Bonner SN, Wakam GK, Kwayke G, Scott JW. COVID-19 and racial disparities: moving towards surgical equity. Ann Surg 2020; 272 (03) e224-e225
• 3 Janeway M, Wilson S, Sanchez SE, Arora TK, Dechert T. Citizenship and social responsibility in surgery: a review. JAMA Surg 2022; 157 (06) 532-539